August 16, 2025

Walking Through Our History: Tour of Williamsburg’s Slavery Past

On August 15, 2025, I chose to spend my birthday walking through the layers of truth buried in Colonial Williamsburg. I took the Williamsburg Slavery Tour to understand more about the lives of the enslaved people who built this land and the systems that profited from their labor.  These systems still impact us today.

The Tour Begins: Windmill Farm and the Reality of Tobacco Labor
This was our Tour Guide Lonnie Sanifer.  He as great, interesting, and very knowledgeable.

We began at the Windmill Farm, surrounded by corn stalks and a few tobacco plants. 

Our guide explained how tobacco had to be checked every day for worms. Enslaved people worked from sunup to sundown, cutting, curing, and rolling tobacco leaves into hogsheads holding up to 1,000 pounds. 

Each hogshead was tagged with a log number, similar to a checkbook entry. That number was sent to an agent in London to credit the landowner once the shipment arrived. These owners were often “cash poor” not because they lacked wealth, but because their entire economic system was built on unpaid labor.

A New World? Not Quite

America was called the “New World,” but the land was already inhabited. 

The first Europeans who came to Virginia were often indentured servants, usually contracted for seven years. This was vastly different from the hereditary, lifelong enslavement that would soon be imposed on Africans and their descendants.

By 1619, Africans arrived in Virginia, and by 1780, Williamsburg had become the capital. The city’s most notable streets were Duke of Gloucester, Nicholson, and Francis were laid by enslaved hands. Their stories live in the bricks, but their names are rarely told.

Slavery, Segregation, and Control

According to our guide, the treatment of enslaved people varied by decade and owner, but the regulation of Black lives remained constant:

  • 1619 to 1865: Slavery and slave codes

  • 1865 to 1960: Jim Crow

  • 1960 to 1980: Legal segregation

One law banned more than five Black people from gathering without a white person present. It wasn’t about safety. It was about control. If we couldn’t gather, we couldn’t organize. If we couldn’t organize, we couldn’t resist, but we did anyway.

Voices of Dissent

Some white men spoke against slavery, including Thomas Paine and Ben Franklin. Thomas Jefferson also did until around 1790, when he realized he could profit from breeding enslaved people in Virginia. At that point, his moral opposition faded. Breeding became cheaper than buying. Jefferson, like many others, shifted from philosopher to profiteer.

Convict Labor and Irish Servants

The tour guide discussed how Georgia began as a convict colony. The term “Irish slaves” came up, but these were actually indentured servants. While their treatment was often brutal, they had contracts and freedom dates. That’s not the same as chattel slavery, where you were property for life and so were your children.

Stories That Stood Out

  • Mary Stith was a white woman and spinster who died in 1816. She was one of the few people in Williamsburg documented as having freed enslaved individuals in her will and left them property. That act set her apart in a society where freedom was rare and inheritance for Black people even rarer.

  • Payton Randolph, one of Virginia’s wealthiest men and a cousin of Thomas Jefferson, enslaved at least 27 people.

  • Robert Carter III was one of the largest slaveholders in colonial America, eventually freed 501 people. He left the Church of England and later the Baptist Church, facing backlash for his decisions. His story is worth deeper study.

Erasure in the Name of Restoration

When Colonial Williamsburg was restored in the 1930s with Rockefeller’s money, new deed restrictions were put in place. These made it hard or impossible for Black families to buy property in the restored historic district, even though their ancestors had built the very streets being “preserved.”

Brick by Brick: My Reflections

We walked down Duke of Gloucester Street and visited historic homes. One house still had the original bricks, some imprinted with the fingerprints of the enslaved people who made them. That image stayed with me. We weren’t just tourists we were walking through sacred ground.

I asked the guide if other tours in Williamsburg talk about the role of slavery. He said it depends on the guide. But with over 51 percent of Williamsburg’s population once enslaved, you can’t tell this town’s story honestly without talking about them.

The Uncomfortable Truth

This is our land. We cultivated it. We built it. Yet we’ve been written out of its history. Even the church found ways to profit, taxing homes with slaves over 16 years old. This wasn’t to discourage slavery it was to benefit from it.

Slavery wasn’t just a Southern issue it was a national economy. It was a system of control, of wealth, of spiritual theft. That system hasn’t ended it has just changed form.

Why This Matters for The Black Folder Project

The Black Folder Project is about legacy, remembering what’s been hidden and reclaiming what’s been lost. This tour reminded me that we must continue telling the truth, even when others try to bury it. You'll see the photos I took, especially of the old trees. They’ve stood for hundreds of years, silent witnesses to everything.

We are not just descendants of survivors. We are descendants of builders, visionaries, and fighters. The story of Williamsburg is our story. And we have the right to tell it.

This is the sign into the Visitors Center to get your tickets, you don't have to go here there is a ticket house on Duke of Gloucester Street.  It's not as glamorous but more convenient.


Saw this Masonic Temple Building on my way back to my car

Went to the court house to see how that was run...just like now...unfair to black people 


Visited the Governor Mansion - It was boring to me.  It was like they tried too hard but didn't bring it to life really. 

Entrance to the Governor's Mansion. Reimagined how they think it looked. Again boring to me. 
Picture of Queen Charlotte that is in the Governor's Mansion

The carriage rides are the highlight.  All I saw was people still thinking they are better than others. You even had some people (ADULTS) riding in the wagons WAVING at us walking. Some form of disgusting to me. 



July 23, 2025

Tell Your Story Before You're Gone

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Hampton Storytelling Festival, and it stirred something deep in me.

It was more than entertainment. It was a soul revival.

People from all walks of life stepped up to the mic to share their truth. Their humor. Their heartbreak. Their journey. And somewhere in the listening, I found a piece of myself again.

This WHRO article captured the heart of the festival beautifully:
Artists showcase heart and humor at Hampton Storytelling Festival – WHRO


The Power of Story

We all have a story. Whether we whisper it, write it, or live it loudly, it matters.

Your story may not be perfect. It may be messy, unfinished, or hard to tell. But that does not make it any less valuable.

One thing I walked away with is this: If you don’t tell your story, who will?

Not just the highlights, not just the struggles, but the moments in between. The quiet strength. The unspoken hope. The chapters you are still trying to write.


May 28, 2025

Take It Early, Take Control: Why Waiting To Take Social Security Might Not Be the Best Move

Everyone’s heard it: “Wait until 70 to take Social Security so you’ll get a bigger check!”

That sounds good in theory, but let’s be honest: no one knows how long they’ll live, and the Social


Security system may not even look the same five or ten years from now.

So here’s the smarter question:
Why give up over $100,000 between ages 67 and 70 in hopes that you’ll live long enough to "make it back"?

Here’s why taking Social Security at 67 (or even earlier) might be the better move:

1. You’re here now.
We can't predict the future, but we know we’re alive today. Starting benefits at 67 guarantees income while you're still healthy enough to enjoy it.

2. You can save it or invest it.
If you don’t need the money right away, that’s even better. You can save those checks, invest them, or use them strategically. If something unexpected happens, your family can inherit what you saved. With Social Security, once you're gone, the checks stop.

3. Waiting is a gamble.
Yes, your monthly benefit grows if you wait, but it typically takes until age 82 or 83 to "break even" and come out ahead. That assumes you live that long but not everyone does.

4. The system is under pressure.
Social Security’s trust fund is expected to be partially depleted in the early 2030s. If that happens, benefits may be reduced by as much as 25%. That means waiting could actually backfire.

5. You’ve earned the right to choose.
This isn’t just about maximizing a government benefit. It’s about minimizing regret, taking control of your money, and building a legacy your family can benefit from.

Final thought

You’ve spent decades paying into the system. Taking your benefits earlier doesn’t mean you're leaving money on the table it means you’re putting yourself first. The longer you wait, the more you leave up to chance.


April 4, 2025

When the Future Is Uncertain, Organize What You Can


Life has always been full of surprises, but in today’s world—where health crises, job instability, and social changes are all around us—the idea of “getting your house in order” isn’t just good advice... it’s 
essential.

This post is about why organizing your personal affairs is a powerful act of self-respect, love, and clarity—and when you should start (hint: it’s now).


Why Organize Your Personal Affairs?

Reason Why It Matters
Uncertainty is constant You don’t know when a crisis will come—being prepared reduces stress and confusion
No one else will do it for you Loved ones shouldn’t be left guessing about your wishes
It brings peace of mind You feel more grounded when your affairs are in order
It’s an act of love Your family won’t have to scramble to make tough decisions
It helps you live with intention Organizing your life forces you to reflect on what matters most

When Should You Start?

NOW.

We wait for a better time, but the truth is:

  • Should you do it before retirement? Yes.
  • While you’re healthy? Absolutely.
  • After a major life event (divorce, death, diagnosis)? Also yes, but don’t wait for that wake-up call.

Don’t wait for a crisis to start caring about your values, your time, or your legacy.


March 16, 2025

Creating A Will

 ​Creating a will is a vital step in ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones are taken care of after your passing. While consulting an attorney is advisable for complex estates, many individuals can draft a simple will on their own using available resources. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:


1. Decide How You'll Write Your Will

There are several methods to create a will:

  • Hire an Attorney: For complex estates or specific legal concerns, consulting an estate planning attorney is recommended.
  • Online Will-Making Services: Platforms like LegalZoom and FreeWill offer guided templates to create legally binding wills.
  • Do-It-Yourself (DIY): With the right resources, you can draft your own will. Ensure it complies with state laws to be considered valid.

December 29, 2024

Another Day, Another Week, Another Year

Today, I am celebrating five years breast cancer free! It feels like a gift wrapped in resilience and hope. The results of my latest mammogram came back clear, and I am grateful. 


Breast cancer is a chapter in my life that taught me to cherish each day and live to the fullest. The treatments and uncertainty are now behind me, replaced by a sense of gratitude for the life I have today. 

For anyone currently battling breast cancer or who has come out the other side, I want to tell you this: you can move forward. You can live without that nagging worry of going back through “cancer stuff" (at least until the next check-up).

Looking Ahead: A Healthier and Kinder Me

July 3, 2024

Brent Simpson CMPD Officer an Exceptional Human Being

When I logged into Facebook to look at E2M Fitness information I saw the below post from CMPD about Brent:  


I worked with Brent at the CMPD training academy for many years. He was such an exceptional human being. He was one of those people that you KNOW when you meet them that you are blessed to have run across their path in this earthly journey. 

In 2012 when I started doing art/pyrography  I sat up a table at a Cornelius art show and Brent and his girlfriend Gina saw me and stopped by my table.  I was just starting the craft, enjoyed doing it but it was a work in progress. Below is the piece that Brent brought from me that day (it is not totally finished here...):